Posts tagged ‘Chloe’
Chloe
A clamor has arisen: why does Soho get a birthday party but not Chloe?
What am I? Chopped liver? Oooh, I love chopped liver. That makes me happy!
And the answer I always give is that Chloe does not need a party because in her world, every day is a party. Chloe is always, always happy. Even when she’s barking her “I think there is a heavily-armed, masked intruder about to break down the front door” bark (this usually just means that our postal carrier is dropping off the mail…) her demeanor tells you that she can hardly wait to greet that masked intruder and offer him milk and cookies.
It's all good, all the time. Can I lick your face with my enormous wet tongue?
I know that everyone thinks theirs is the best dog in the universe, but everyone (except maybe for Katherine) is just wrong. Sorry, but the Best Dog in the Universe trophy undisputedly must go to Chloe. No, she has not yet saved us from a burning building nor can she sing and play the piano at the same time. But she could if she wanted to, I am convinced of that.
Chloe, you might say, lives large. And she is a study in the power of positive reinforcement. She hears the words Good Girl! Beautiful Girl! thirty or forty times a day, which completely outweighs the occasional Bad Girl! she hears when she, say, steals a plate of cat food off of a counter top. Just think of how you might look at life if you were told how wonderful and gorgeous you were all day long every day!
Among her many talents: lifeguarding at the pool
She loves everyone:
What other dog would tolerate this?
Or this?
And Dizzy, who is the most discerning creature we know, has made it clear that his highest affections are reserved for Chloe. And if Dizzy says it’s so, it is so!
Dizzy is happiest when he's cuddled up next to Chloe.
She is always a good sport:
I'll wear whatever you want me to, and I'll keep smiling!
And as big as she is, you can always, 100% of the time count on Chloe to be gentle with children. Did I mention that she is a Good Girl!? Here she is, showing off her giant teeth to PJG and a much-younger Evie:
I love this photo. Evie and Viv with Chloe on Easter day.
For those inquiring minds that want to know, Chloe will turn six on the 16th of September. She will not have a party and she will not care. But she wouldn’t mind at all if you stopped by with a pizzle stick…
Wasn't she a cute puppy?
And don't forget her other talent: she can impersonate a vampire!
Home is Where the Tart Is
It’s been a bumpy week. The funeral, which went as well as it possibly could have. The travel, which, um, did not.
First, though, thanks to everyone for the meaningful condolences. From cannoli to cards to so, so many beautiful flowers, the expressions of sympathy have been so appreciated. There’s a certain fragility that seems to set in at times like these, an odd wobbliness, and it seems that each time someone reaches out with a kind word it gently guides me back to equilibrium.
These beautiful flowers from Pollo Amiga greeted us at the church
Neither Elkhart, IN or the Roman Catholic Church get a lot of positive press, but they both have a gem in Father Bill Sullivan of St. Thomas the Apostle church. He knew my father well and spoke of him with wisdom and kindness. In his homily at the funeral mass, Father Sullivan mentioned that my father had hoped to have “one more spring”, which I also knew to be true. As spring does unfold, I will try to appreciate it all the more this year.
Father Sullivan (and my grand-niece Makenzie in the foreground)
It was a relief to have one “normal” evening in Elkhart, thanks to my friend, Nancy, who arranged her visit there to coincide with ours. The CE and I spent an evening with her and her parents, Fern and Jerry, and their criminally adorable Yorkie, Rufus.
Fern and Rufie
Fern and Nancy. Resemblance much?
After the long, bleak drive to O’Hare, we had our first encounter with a full-body scanner, and, risk to national security that I am, I was sternly led off to the pat-down area. I always wonder who they allow to sail through security while the TSA ponders my nether regions. To add insult to insult, my camera was apparently stolen from my suitcase on the front end of the trip.
photo credit: Wonkette
We were thrilled to learn that we’d been given first class upgrades on our flight home from Chicago. After an hour and a half wait at the gate, however, the thrill was definitively gone. At the two-and-a-half hour mark, they de-boarded the airplane for another tense hour, after which we were called back on board with a load of empty promises. Another hour and a half twiddled by. Those of you who know the CE can only imagine how much eyebrow -twisting ensued. Somewhere just short of the six-hour mark, we left the gate and finally headed home.
And it is, indeed, good to be home. Dave, Karen and Victoria predictably spoiled the animals, who greeted our return with hearty yawns.
"Oh, you again?"
Hope puts her best foot forward
Dodger pretends to care.
The Tart refuses to move until Uncle Dave comes back.
It may be an uphill battle to work our way back into the good graces of our pets, but we are well-armed with treats and what looks to be a sunny weekend. Hope yours is a good one!
Not fat. Just fluffy
It’s true. Chloe is vindicated. After all the speculation, here are the pics to prove it.
And she's not even sucking in that stomach.
Economy-sized gal
"Looking for a Valentine? I'm available."
The Circus of Life
Seems it’s just a vale of tears for the pets these days. Hope is feeling much better and thanks you for all your inquiries and encouragement on her behalf, but the glass is most definitely on the half empty side for a few of the other pets this week.
"Seriously? Don't I even get a phone call to my lawyer?"
While I was languishing in the dentist’s chair (AGAIN!) Victoria and the CE piled a gaggle of highly offended cats and dogs into the car for a trip to the vet yesterday morning. Seems that summer (if you could call it that – the temps are hovering in the high 50′s at the moment) means dog days even for the cats.
"Are we waiting to board the ark?"
Soho and Rosie were due for vaccines. Cody, if you can imagine, is allergic to his own plentiful fur and developed an asthmatic reaction to it, (as Alexandra observed, “So Cody is allergic to cats?) so he has to have the occasional steroid injection. Dizzy has a dermatological condition that embarrasses him, so a steroid injection was indicated for him, too. And there was even a moment of sickness for the CE at the end – when he saw the bill! Yikes!
"Are you really, truly squishing my head? Don't you people know who I am?"
"If you need me, I'll be in my man cave, sulking."
Oxymoron: domesticated cat
"Let's not do that again anytime soon."
But life is not all bad. The dogs are getting walked, the she-bird is having baths, and when we aren’t medicating animals, we occasionally slip out for some fun of our own.
Chloe says, "But Alexandra, it's so early!"
As close as Birdie will ever get to the rain forest
What could possibly be better than a dogs-included beer tasting? A veritable Oktoberfest with pets! Leave it to friends Katherine and Dan to come up with such a sophisticated and pet-friendly occasion!
Such a hoppy time! Katherine, Dan and Bernadette. Prost!
There was even Bowser Beer for the dogs - Chloe got so relaxed she made herself at home on the couch.
I don’t know about you, but in general, the glass seems more than half-full, and when there’s beer in it, all the better. Cheers, everyone!
I wouldn't have believed it either, but it really exists. Petco carries it. Non-alcoholic, of course.
Greetings from the Arctic!
It’s that time of year again – cold, cold, cold! Wait a second – that would be EVERY time of the year here in coastal southern CA, wouldn’t it? Winter, high temps in the 60′s; summer, high temps in the 60′s.
Summer clothes remain stowed deep in the closet; I sit at the computer swathed in a sweater and wool socks. How I long for that 100 degree weather in NYC that everyone was complaining about. Just to prove I’m not making it up, this from yesterday’s LA Times:
The 68-degree low at Los Angeles International Airport broke the old record low for the day, which was 70 degrees in 1991. Santa Barbara (68) and San Luis Obispo (69) broke records as well.
Speaking of northern climes, here are two stunning photos that Emily sent from her recent trip to Iceland:
a volcano - that's not fog, it's steam!
The Arctic Ocean - looks warm compared to southern CA these days!
We braved the cold and ventured out to see Inception Monday night with a crew of young friends. The movie was an edge-of-your-seat serpentine stroll through the subconscious. Leonardo DiCaprio with furrowed brow, Ellen Page in her Juno outfits but sans the snappy comebacks, a smoldering Marion Cotillard, and a subdued performance from one of my favorite actors, Cillian Murphy. Remember him as the creepy bad guy from Batman Begins?
Cillian Murphy
The movie was fun, but having dinner with Daniel, Hannah, Victoria, Alexandra and her friend, Rick, (see, Rick, I told you you’d be on the blog!) was even more fun:
Daniel, Rick and Alexandra
Victoria and Hannah
Daniel returned to NYC on Wednesday to enjoy the city for a few weeks (and the warmer weather!) before he heads to South Korea to visit his friend, Amber. It was so nice to have him home!
Daniel's farewell breakfast included an egg sandwich. Guess who provided the eggs...
Saying good-bye at the airport
Granny mentioned that the chicken blog has been a bit short on chicken updates lately, and the girls agree. We brought them crickets this afternoon to atone for our negligence.
"I prefer caviar with my crickets, thank you"
"And don't forget the toast points"
While we were at the pet store buying crickets, a volunteer with B.U.N.S. (Bunnies Urgently Needing Shelter) http://www.bunssb.org/ was on hand with a darling young rabbit who is seeking a home. You can only imagine how quickly the CE ushered me out of the store after he spied me in deep conversation about bunnykeeping.
I hope somebunny adopts him soon!
We acquired a new addition to our chicken decor collection this week. Granny’s friend, Edie, brought us an egg box – I can’t tell whether it’s a reproduction or an original, but either way it’s very cool, and has a wonderful likeness of Amelia on it!
Thanks, Edie!
And there was another acquisition this week: I bought an ipad! My friend, Tara, has one and showed me the “Words with Friends” app that allows you to play a virtual Scrabble game online. Had to have it! Of course, the next day I saw a Wired magazine article entitled “iPad Owners Are ‘Selfish Elites.’ Critics Are ‘Independent Geeks.’ “
According to the article, ipad owners are “six times more likely to be “wealthy, well-educated, power-hungry, over-achieving, sophisticated, unkind and non-altruistic 30-50 year olds.” As unflattering as that portrait may be, I have to say I am thrilled just to be considered in a 30-50 year-old age group. Hopefully, that is not the only part of the profile I don’t fit in…
Meanwhile, instead of endeavoring to be more altruistic, I’ll be brushing up on my Scrabble skills so I can be worthy of a game with Tara!
The CE continues to cool his heels, so to speak. He’s had his appointments with the two surgeons we’ve been told are tops for performing the procedure he needs, and he is now deciding which one will wield the scalpel. Interestingly, each doc has a slightly different approach so it’s not as straightforward a decision as we would have expected. In either case, however, the CE is looking at two months on crutches, one of them with a full cast. Yikes! The dogs have not suffered in the least - they’ve enjoyed runs on the beach and lovely walks with some of their favorite friends.
Victoria gives Chloe a rinse after a beach outing
Vernon went, too!
Katherine and Karma came to pick up the girls this morning
"Sorry you can't come with me, CE"
Sitting pretty
After the walk
Karma says goodbye
Down but not out: he can still wrangle cats!
One thing is for certain: the upcoming surgery means we won’t be visiting NYC anytime soon. A disappointment, for sure. Victoria painted this city scene for us as a surprise – it will be our consolation until we’re able to see the real thing.
Weekend Wrap-up
Just to prove there IS life with two less-than-abled folks running the show, here are some pix from our weekend:
Multi-tasking: When she's not tending to the dogs, Alexandra gets quality time with Birdie
More multi-tasking: Victoria took the girls and Vernon to the beach yesterday
Girls Just Wanna Have Fun: Julia and her friends borrowed the pool house yesterday to prep for a wedding
Aren't they beautiful?!
Just like old times: Nice to have Daniel home! Hannah joined us for dinner.
It's not his BBQ'ing foot, thank goodness! The CE still managed to grill steaks and Granny made the yummiest peach pie!
Just keep the Cheerio's coming: the chickens are still keeping the CE on his toes, so to speak
We'll walk with you!
We get by with a little help from our friends.
Almost as cute as the CE
Another view of the posterior tibialis tendon
Here’s the scoop: the MRI confirmed that the posterior tibialis tendon is completely severed. The first doc who looked at it feared that it might not even be operable, but a visit to one of the known rock stars of the ankle surgery world later in the week in Los Angeles brought better news. The CE’s running career is, sadly, at an end, but he should ultimately be able to walk as far as he wants without pain. As you can imagine, Chloe and Soho were happy to hear this.
Life is sad when the CE can't take me for a walk.
The immediate problem is this: I can’t walk the dogs because the slightest tug on a leash rotates my lumbar vertebrae. The CE now can’t walk the dogs because, well, because he basically can’t walk. In the scheme of things, that may not seem like a tragedy, but you may be forgetting how pampered and spoiled Soho and Chloe are. Thankfully, some of dog’s best friends leaped into action and volunteered to stop by and take the girls for a walk.
"Walk with me...I'll even carry my own leash"
And, lest we forget, this is a difficult time for the Shoo Bear as well - he's not sure where the next can is coming from
Alexandra has taken on the lion’s share of the work, tuckering the girls out with early morning jogs. Bernadette stopped by to cheer everyone up on Wednesday, and Julia and Grant were here on Thursday. Having Daniel home to visit for the week has lifted everyone’s spirits, as well. Life is good.
Daniel and Dizzy
Guess where the eggs in that sandwich came from!
The CE sees another doc in LA next week and will then decide which guy he trusts most to cut him. He’s been told that the recovery for this is long, involved and no picnic, so the idea of having the procedure done before our upcoming family vacation has been nixed. It looks like surgery will be scheduled for the second or third week of September – he has been told things can’t really get any worse in the interim, so he’s free to hobble around as best he can in the meantime. We are so blessed to have Alexandra staying with us and Victoria working for us, as the two of them are a huge help. I’m confident that we’ll sort out the rest of it. In the meantime, anyone looking to accessorize with a Golden Retriever and a Coton de Tulear is welcome to stop by and take the girls for a spin.
There will be a full cast, and there will be crutches. No idea how we will manage that with a two-story house, but we will find a way. My physical therapist is set up to do the rehab when the time comes, so that piece of the puzzle is in place. The CE is, as always, tough and resilient. Very hard for him to be benched like this, but now that he more or less has a plan, he’s determined to get through this with grace, fortitude, and chickens…
No worries about being lonely
One thing we learned is that, in all his years of executive physicals, had any doctor had ever mentioned to the CE that he had flat feet, this situation might have been averted simply by wearing orthotics. The doc he saw in LA said this injury is one of “attrition” – having flat feet puts a strain on the tendon over time which can be mitigated by wearing orthotics. If you don’t know whether you have flat feet or not, put it on your checklist to ask next time you visit a physician – apparently if you don’t ask, they don’t tell.
Arch enemy: flat feet
NYC: “A Place Apart”
The quote is from Pearl Buck. (Look her up youngsters…)
She said “As for New York City, it is a place apart. There is not its match in any other country in the world.” True dat.
This was one of our best trips yet, with lots of opportunities to explore our new neighborhood and plenty of face time with family members. Highlights included: thin crust pizza and sangria at our neighborhood Italian restaurant; having Daniel stay with us at our apartment; take-out Thai at Angie’s apartment with Thomas and Jamesy in overdrive;
"We don't understand why Mommy gets so tired"
discovering Our Redeemer services two blocks from our apartment and enjoying incredible classical chamber music performances both times we went; Turkish food on 46th Street with Bobby and then walking back to the apartment on a warm summer night;
exercise class
fun with a new toy
a day in Darien with Tina, Evie and Vivie, then dinner with them and John on the veranda of their country club; lots of walks through Central Park, including our discovery of The Ramble; brunch at the Central Park Boathouse with Taylor and Victoria and then a visit to the Met; dinner with the boys, Victoria and Easton at Nobu 57; and last but by no means least, mornings perched on our windowseat with the New York Times, the Post and our beloved view of the park.
Daniel, Victoria and Taylor
Central Park
At the Met
Taylor and Easton
Daniel and Victoria at Nobu 57
Taylor and Victoria had fun at the Central Park Zoo, and Daniel (with a raging fever and strep throat – but hey, the show must go on) attended the event of the season: the Lady GaGa concert at Madison Square Garden
Snow Leopard at the Central Park Zoo
T and Victoria's friend, Adrienne, flippering out at Central Park Zoo
Souvenir
Sick, in every sense of the word...
Her Highness, the GaGa
The new material girl
Of course, it’s not all bad being home, either (the bread and water diet after eating our way through the city notwithstanding ) California has its own charms:
We missed Chloe!
Scenes from a Tarty Party.
Lovely food, plenty of drink, the sun came out and Soho reveled in the attention. The cards and gifts were, as ever, over the top. On alternate years, we make a donation to an animal organization to offset the bevy of bling and surfeit of swag Soho receives at her party. Good thing dogs can’t really be spoiled, right?
It may not technically be my party, but basically, every party is my party, so I keep smiling.
The Tart dons her tiara.
Jessica has been in the Tart's life from the day we picked our pup up at LAX.
Cathy (and Kirstie) keep Soho and Chloe looking beautiful.
Katherine and Karma. Please note the black bow tie.
Bernadette gets some love.
Karen, Kirstie and Cathy
Dave and the CE
Annabelle and Mia
Some of the yummy food!
By way of explanation, the biennial event has become known as the “Tarty Party” because Miss Soho, like every proper diva, has a nickname. When she flatters a human by jumping up to sit next to them (yes, we know she’s just trolling for pizzles but we think it’s about us anyway) she does not jump and she does not leap: the only way to describe it is to say she pops. Hence, she is known among her intimates as Miss Pop Tart, which begs shortening to Tarty. There has occasionally been confusion over this moniker, although we won’t name names, will we Bernadette? There are those who have heard it as “Tardy” rather than “Tarty” and since Miss Tart is quite punctual, never late, there are some who interpreted the nickname as meaning, well, that perhaps Soho is not as bright as some of the other dogs on the block. Or in the universe. How such a rumor could get started I cannot imagine. She’s actually quite smart. She just doesn’t want to show off. Don’t let all that fluff between her ears fool you. I’ve caught her reading Proust when no one is looking.
Ellie and the birthday girl/
Soho in her tiara cuddling up to Dave
Jo and John
Teri and Ellie
Just have to include another photo of Karma.
Happy Anniversary, Pam and Kirk!
Victoria and the Tart.
Bernadette and Annabelle
Colleen and Raoul
He is fearless around the chickens!
Michael tries a cupcake
Too many presents! Chadd presided over the gifts.
Chloe and Kirstie
Family photo: Michael, Marie-Christine and Victoria
Dave and Karen
A very tired - but happy- Tart.
Thanks to all you dear people who do not pass judgment over us for having a birthday party for a dog…and for not telling us if you do.
“Grandpa, do you live in a zoo?”
Hurricane Thomas and Hurricane James spun through last week along with their parents and their dog, Tiny. Thomas tallied up all the animals he saw and seemed to compare it favorably with the Central Park Zoo.
City boy befriends chickens
Thomas was quite the helper in the chicken yard. He tuned into the rhythm of chicken-keeping, dutifully remembering when it was time to let the chickens out in the morning and bring them in at night. And he enjoyed the daily egg hunt, as well.
A two-egg day
That's not a chicken!
We picked oranges and made fresh-squeezed juice
Jamesy!
In the chicken yard
So relaxing with kids, isn't it?
Chloe lifeguards
"We are not water dogs"
Post-swim snuggle
Dueling dictators
Amelia gets a moment of peace
We spent an afternoon going "Sideways"
Victoria makes a new friend
Krista came to visit
Jamesy and Great-Granny
Ah, to be young again!
Dizzy says BTDT
Love the new sign!
The amazing Grandpa!
The family had an early flight on Easter Sunday so they left dark and early. Since we were up and wide-awake, the CE and I decided to go to an Easter sunrise service, which we enjoyed so much it may become a tradition. What a privilege to stand with the sea behind us, the moutains before us and worship our God above us. He is risen indeed!
The moon was setting over the ocean as we arrived
The sky cleared to a beautiful Easter morning
Hope you had a wonderful Easter!
